Stringed instrument bridge

Abstract

A bridge for an acoustic guitar including a body and a neck extending outward from the body. The bridge includes a base fixed to the body, and a saddle support for supporting a saddle. The saddle support has a support surface for supporting a side surface of the saddle that is closer to the neck. The saddle is supported with its upper surface protruding from an upper surface of the saddle support. The saddle support has a plurality of grooves extending in the direction of the corresponding strings. The strings are supported by the upper surface of the saddle in the corresponding grooves.

1. A stringed instrument bridge for supporting a plurality of strings with a saddle on a body of a stringed instrument having a neck, which extends from the body, in a manner enabling vibration of the strings, the stringed instrument bridge comprising:
 a base fixed to the body, the base being formed into a plate and extending in a direction perpendicular to and across a direction of extension of the strings; 
 a unitary saddle set on an upper surface of the base and supporting the plurality of strings, the unitary saddle having one side surface closer to the neck and another side surface farther from the neck; 
 a saddle support arranged on the base to support the saddle; and 
 a support surface upstanding from the base, and arranged on the saddle support to support the side surface of the unitary saddle closer to the neck, operative to resist tilting of the unitary saddle by tension in the strings; 
 the saddle support having a plurality of string insertion portions extending in the direction of the corresponding strings, the string insertion portions being arranged closer to the neck than the saddle is; and 
 the strings being supported by the upper surface of the saddle in corresponding string insertion portions 
 the string insertion portions are grooves that open in the upper surface of the saddle support; and 
 the support surface including a support recess for supporting the saddle with the saddle fitted in the support recess. 
 
   
   
     2. The stringed instrument bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the grooves has a depth set in a range from ¼ to ¾ the height of the saddle support. 
   
   
     3. The stringed instrument bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the saddle support includes teeth formed between adjacent grooves. 
   
   
     4. The stringed instrument bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the support recess has a depth set in a range of ¼ to ¾ the thickness of the saddle. 
   
   
     5. The stringed instrument bridge according to  claim 1 , wherein the saddle support has guides for guiding two ends of the saddle in a longitudinal direction of the saddle support. 
   
   
     6. The stringed instrument bridge according to  claim 5 , wherein the guides have inner surfaces formed into the same shape as the two ends of the saddle. 
   
   
     7. A stringed instrument bridge for supporting a plurality of strings with a saddle on a body of a stringed instrument having a neck, which extends from the body, in a manner enabling vibration of the strings, the stringed instrument bridge comprising:
 a base fixed to the body, the base being formed into a plate and extending in a direction perpendicular to and across a direction of extension of the strings; 
 a unitary saddle set on an upper surface of the base and supporting the plurality of strings, the unitary saddle having one side surface closer to the neck and another side surface farther from the neck; 
 a saddle support arranged on the base to support the saddle; 
 a support surface upstanding from the base, and arranged on the saddle support to support the side surface of the unitary saddle closer to the neck, operative to resist tilting of the unitary saddle by tension in the strings; 
 an engagement groove formed in the base at a basal end of the saddle support so that a lower end of the saddle is fitted in the engagement groove; 
 the saddle support having a plurality of string insertion portions extending in the direction of the corresponding strings, the string insertion portions being arranged closer to the neck than the saddle is; 
 the strings being supported by the upper surface of the saddle in corresponding string insertion portions; and 
 the string insertion portions are grooves that open in the upper surface of the saddle support. 
 
   
   
     8. The stringed instrument bridge according to  claim 7 , wherein the engagement groove has a depth set to less than one half the thickness of the base.